2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423) 65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

Airports

7 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4

total

7

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Area

land

4,033 sq km

total

4,033 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Background

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Geography Cape Verde

Birth rate

24.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$370.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$324.6 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

14 55 N, 23 31 W

name

Praia

time difference

UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic

Coastline

965 km

Constitution

new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cape Verde

conventional short form

Cape Verde

local long form

Republica de Cabo Verde

local short form

Cabo Verde

Currency (code)

Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Currency code

CVE

Current account balance

$-44.43 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$325 million (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE

embassy

Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia

mailing address

C. P. 201, Praia

telephone

[238] 2-60-89-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Jose BRITO

telephone

[1] (202) 965-6820

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

$136 million (1999)

Economy - overview

This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. Cape Verde has been exploring European Union membership in recent years.

Electricity - consumption

40.92 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

44 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Exchange rates

Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 86.2664 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Pedro Verona PIRES (since 22 March 2001)

election results

Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006 (next to be held February 2011); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2001)

Exports

$96.71 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners

Spain 38.2%, Portugal 33.3%, US 9.2%, Morocco 5.4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 965-1207

[238] 2-61-13-55

consulate(s) general

Boston

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Cape Verde

Flag description

three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands Economy Cape Verde

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

12.1%

industry

21.9%

services

66% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.128 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.129 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site People Cape Verde

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.035% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

225 (as of 2001)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

775 (2001)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$495.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

Portugal 40.9%, Italy 7.8%, Netherlands 7.2%, Spain 5.5%, Brazil 5.3%, France 4.7%, Belgium 4.6% (2005)

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair

Infant mortality rate

female

41.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

51.63 deaths/1,000 live births

total

46.52 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.7% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.cv

Internet hosts

234 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

25,000 (2005) Transportation Cape Verde

Investment (gross fixed)

25.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Labor force

120,600 (1990)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

11.41%

other

87.85% (2005)

permanent crops

0.74%

Languages

Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

Legal system

derived from the legal system of Portugal

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%, UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, ADM 2

elections

last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011)

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.15 years (2006 est.)

male

67.41 years

total population

70.73 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

69.2% (2003 est.) Government Cape Verde

male

85.8%

total population

76.6%

Location

Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

87,310 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

84,641

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

73,662 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

65,614

Map references

Political Map of the World

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

20.7 years (2006 est.)

male

19 years

total

19.8 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4

foreign-owned

2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2006)

total

7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,300 GRT/7,726 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$7.18 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Cape Verde

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Cape Verdean

noun

Cape Verdean(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Natural resources

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Net migration rate

-11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,150 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004)

People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP)

Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing)

Political parties and leaders

African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO, president]; Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

420,979 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

30% (2000)

Population growth rate

0.64% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal Military Cape Verde

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios

100,000 (2002 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$166.4 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

932 km

total

1,350 km

unpaved

418 km (2000)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998

general assessment

effective system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995

international

country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

71,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

81,700 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)

Televisions

15,000 (2002 est.)

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Total fertility rate

3.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (2000 est.)